CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 159 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 9847 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, May 29, 2007 The House met at 10 a.m. “Relocating Members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, and Federal Public Service”; the 16th report on the 2005-06 departmental performance report and the 2006-07 report on plans and priorities of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada; and the 17th report on Prayers the main estimates, 2007-08. In addition, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the 15th and 16th reports. Ï (1005) FISHERIES AND OCEANS [Translation] Mr. Gerald Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's, CPC): Mr. INFORMATION COMMISSIONER Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the The Speaker: Pursuant to section 38 of the Access to Information fifth report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on Act, I have the honour to table the report of the Information the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. Commissioner for the year ending March 31, 2007. *** [English] PETITIONS Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Mr. Colin Mayes (Okanagan—Shuswap, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I *** rise to present a petition from my constituents of Okanagan— Shuswap. The petitioners are calling on Parliament to provide GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Canadians with greater access to natural health products by Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of removing the goods and services tax on them and enacting Bill the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for C-404, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act. Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the HUMAN TRAFFICKING government's response to six petitions. Mrs. Joy Smith (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this *** morning it is my honour to present hundreds of names on two petitions from people who are calling on the government to continue INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS its good work to combat the trafficking of persons worldwide. This is Mr. Gerald Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's, CPC): Mr. a crime that is growing in Canada and organizations throughout our Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to nation are amalgamating to combat this horrendous crime against present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the humanity. annual visit by the co-chairs of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary INCOME TRUSTS Group, held in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Miyajima, Japan, from March 10-16, 2007. Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I present this income trust broken promise petition on behalf of Mr. *** David Sands of Mississauga, Ontario, who remembers the Prime COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Minister boasting about his apparent commitment to accountability when he said that the greatest fraud is “a promise not kept”. The PUBLIC ACCOUNTS petitioners remind the Prime Minister that he promised never to tax Hon. Shawn Murphy (Charlottetown, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I income trusts, but he recklessly broke that promise by imposing a have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report 31.5% punitive tax, which permanently wiped out over $25 billion of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Chapter 5 of the of hard-earned retirement savings of over two million Canadians, November 2006 report of the Auditor General of Canada, particularly seniors. 9848 COMMONS DEBATES May 29, 2007 Government Orders The petitioners therefore call upon the Conservative minority People in the fishing industry will often say that they do not like government, first, to admit that the decision to tax income trusts was the legislation as it stands, but that they can survive nonetheless. based on flawed methodology and incorrect assumptions, second, to They have an industry and are getting by. If this legislation is apologize to those who were unfairly harmed by this broken replaced, it must be replaced with a better bill that will improve the promise, and finally, to repeal the punitive 31.5% tax on income fishery for families, fishers and coastal communities. trusts. OLD AGE SECURITY ACT Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is This bill contains several provisions to that end, but it also has my honour to table petitions from many seniors across the greater some weaknesses. I am finding resistance and fear in the fishing Toronto area. These seniors believe that the unification of seniors communities in my riding and elsewhere. People are asking me to with their families in Canada through immigration is a core aspect of vote against this bill. I think this is unfortunate, because with a few forming strong, healthy and vibrant families and communities in amendments, the bill could be very good for the fishing industry and Canada and that newcomer seniors currently suffer unfairly from the could bring stability. 10 year residency requirement under Canada's income security programs. They say that Canada's old age security, guaranteed income But the government is refusing to make those amendments. We supplement and social assistance programs are age, capacity, and are being asked to adopt the bill at second reading in order to needs based benefit programs, not income security plans based on introduce the necessary amendments, but we know that they will not individual contributions. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the be in order. They would be now, but they will not be after second Government of Canada to amend the Old Age Security Act reading, in committee. I think this is unfortunate. regulations and policies to eliminate the 10 year residency requirement for the OAS and guaranteed income supplement. CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD Now, the minister controls the wording of the bill. I believe he Mr. Merv Tweed (Brandon—Souris, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am should hold consultations on the bill's wording in coastal commu- pleased to present a petition on behalf of some of my constituents. nities, in fishing communities, with the groups concerned, and make The petitioners urge the Minister of Agriculture to allow farmers to amendments. They are not major amendments. The bill the minister determine their future in regard to the Canadian Wheat Board. is introducing does not have to be rejected. With minor changes, it would be an excellent bill. *** Ï (1010) QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER The minister could do that. According to the motion introduced by Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Liberal fisheries critic, the minister could make the amendments the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for that have been introduced. I therefore encourage him to do so. Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand. The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed? [English] Some hon. members: Agreed. However, what we have here and what we are going to discuss is the bill in its current form. Again, I do not think this is a bad deal. I GOVERNMENT ORDERS think it has some weaknesses. I participated, as many others did, in [Translation] the Atlantic fisheries policy review, a wide-ranging session of consultations with the industry, communities and the provinces, and FISHERIES ACT, 2007 we came to the acceptance of a document. We accepted the proposals The House resumed from February 23 consideration of the motion of the review and I see pretty well all of them within this bill. that Bill C-45, An Act respecting the sustainable development of Canada's seacoast and inland fisheries, be read the second time and referred to a committee, and of the amendment. As for where I have problems with the bill, I am going to talk Hon. Robert Thibault (West Nova, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am about two areas. Other colleagues will talk about other areas. I am pleased to rise today to discuss Bill C-45. This is a very ambitious going to talk about two areas that are problematic. They are not easy bill designed to replace the current Fisheries Act, which has to resolve. Now that he has the text of the act, I would encourage the undergone some changes but is more than 136 years old. There is minister to consult, based on the text he received from the general agreement that the current legislation is flawed and must be communities, on the modifications that would improve that act amended. However, there are problems associated with amending and that he consider bringing them forward to Parliament, as the this sort of legislation. committee will not be able to do it at second reading. May 29, 2007 COMMONS DEBATES 9849 Government Orders One problem is the question of licence ownership. It has been Ï (1015) stated by the courts in decisions that a licence is not a property. It is a permit. It is not property. That is understood. It has been understood I want to return to the licensing and give an example of a good in jurisprudence. However, in the evolution of our fisheries it has principle poorly applied and its negative impact. I want to give an become an asset. It has value. It is often the pension plan of the example of the ministerial order given by the minister a few weeks family participating in that fishery.